Loading and unloading apparatus.



B. W. TUCKER.

LOADING AND UNLOADING APPARATUS.

. .APPLIOATION FILED MAB.. 7, 1908. 1,044,301 Patented Nov. 12, 1912.

RN. WN. M N www NIN.

WMI

B. W. TUCKER.

LOADING AND UNLOADING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAIL?, 1908.

Patented Nov.12,1912.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

113 Las md/ W B. VV. TUCKER. LOAMNG AND UNLOADING APPARATUS.

, APPLICATION FILED MAR.7,1908. VV1,044,301 Patented N0v.12,1912.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

3l/Sli, buques 4 B. W. TUCKER. LOADING AND UNLGADING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 7, 1908. l

Patented NOV.12,1912.

. l mlflllkol witnesses Patented Nov. 12, 19,12.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 7, 1908.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

B. W. TUCKER.

LOADING'AND UNLOADING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION IILBD MAR17, 1908V 1,044,301.

Patented NOV. 12, 1912.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

n: @MF

B. W. TUCKER.

LOADING AND UNLOADINC- APPARATUS. APPLIOATON FILED 1zr1 \.v,190a.

Patented Nov. 12,1912.

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(9S @s 'n m N N @o A p m N N f w a N m u f YB @XN/lineas@ i nucl/rho@ B. W. TUCKER.

LOADING AND UNLUADING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MIAR.7,1908,-

l ,@QSQL e Patented NOV. 12, 1912.

? E i i |1- B. W. TUCKER. n LOADING AND UNLOADING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 7, 1908.

1,044,301 A Y Ptented Nov. 12,1912.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

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BENJAMIN w. TUCKER., or NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

LOADING AND UNLOADIN G APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

rammen Eea is, 1912.

Application led March 7, 1908. Serial No. 419,743.

To all' it may cof/wem.'

Be fit -known that I, BENJAMIN l TUCKER, a citizen of the United States, and

a resident of Newark, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain ful Improvements in Loading g Apparatus, of which the following is a lfull, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates more particularly to 'anapparatus for loading and unloading vessels. 'r

The `primary object of the invention is to y provide Va simple, strong and eiiicient appapended position,

ratus, which'may be suitably supported from the masts or booms of the vessel above the deck and held to the deck rigidly in its susor to permit the said apparatus to be readily swung to various positions to adapt for loading or unloading from either side of the vessel; andto provide means, whereby the apparatus may be under absolute control of the operator-.and so constructed that the working or loading and unloading means, independentI of the frame,'may be lengther'ed or shortened to adapt the apparatus to unload or load from different or varying heights according to the distance the packages, boxes or other freight is to be transferred, thus compensating forthe rise and fall ofthe tide, or for the removal of the freight.'

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatuswhich is complete in all its detail and which has Va motor mounted thereon, land which is so constructed that the means, as a chain, for carrying t-he freight or material to be transferred will not in any way interfere with the apparatus as said chain is'suitably supported on the frame so as to travel along suit-able.tracks while transferring the material and in moving to a position to receive the material to be transferred. 4 A

A further object of the invention is to providesimpleand effective means whereby l an endless carrier 'as'a chain, may be em-v ployed for transferring purposes, and which is so openatedthat I'al slack in the form of av loop may be provided at either or both ends of the apparatus, and so controlled that the said slack 4may be utilized 'to lengthen or shorten the working partA of the carrier which loads or unloads the ,materiah and which slack portion or supplemental loop is absolutely under the control of the operator to quickly and' readily permit material to be transferred from any desired height or depth.

With these and other objects in view, the invention will be hereinafter more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a partof this specification, 4and will then be pointed out in the claims at the end of the description.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan view of one forni of apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is an end view on an enlarged scale showing the endless carrier or conveyer in section, the view being taken on the line III- Hi of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section, partly in elevation, taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a vertical transverseI section taken on the `line V*V of Fig.

2, showing one means for supporting the apparatus. Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line'v VI-VI of Fig. 2. Fig. T is a fragmentaryplanview, partly broken away, showingy the `motor and part of the mechanism for controlling the endless chain or carrier.

the central part Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is the apparatus. the end of the of the apparatus shown in a plan :view of one end of F ig. l0 is a side elevation of apparatus shown in Fig. 9.

.Fig l1 is ai plan view, partly diagrammatic,

showing the several combinations of operations vthat may be lnade'for controlling. partor all of the endless carrier. Fig. l2 is a side elevation, partly diagrammatic, various positions of the loops when certain parts of the mechanism are operated. Fig.

Fig. Sis a side' elevation of showing 13 is a transverse section of a vessel, showing the apparatus suspended above the deck and transferring freight from the vessel to a lighter or from the lighter to thel vessel. Fig. 14 is a similar view of Fig. 13, except that the apparatus is shown as loading or unloading the freight from a dock .to the vessel or the vessel to a dock; and Fig. 15 is a planl view of a vessel having two ofthe apparatus, one in the fore and the other in the after part of the vessel, showing how freight may be transferred between the dock 105 and vessel or between the vessel and a lighter.

While I have shown the invention as applied to a particular purpose and supported vin acertain way, iii will be understood that The said apparatus may be arranged in any thereto, and said beams are held iogel'her by vertical tiebars ll.? and .nignilarlyv disposed lie-bars 14 in a manner subslanlially the same as in bridge or building; construel'ion. The said parls are` so held togeiher al their joints by tie-plaies l5, or otherwise, l'hal a Very strong, efleel'ive and light frame provided which is subsi/initially oblong 1n form. rfhis frame l() is provided with oui:- Wardly-extending arms 1G on opposite. sides of the transverse eenler thereof, and seid arms may form a continuation ol? eerlain el the transversev beams 17. the number Oi' which .Vary according` to the size or lhe apparatus, and Said transverse beams may be held to the vertical lie-bars 1?. The arms 16 au15T be provided willi eyes or (flips 1S at both the upper and lower sides thereof7 and to said eyes ma)7 be held the en): ropes or cables 1S) b v whieh 'he said frame ma)7 be suspended from die boom or booms 20 of the vessel, and to i'he lower eyes or clips i8 are held the guy ropes or Cablesl Q1. whereby the ammralns mayv he lashed llo The deel; of the vessel and rieidljv held at .any suitable. dislanee above the deck as shown best in Figs. 13 and l-l. By l'his means the apparal'us may be raised and placed in position for loading; or unloading", and may be quickly lowered to `the deck while not in use. rThe iframe 'is braced eentrally thereof by means of additional lierods and beams 2Q Which may exi end trans! versely, lengthwise and angular-lv lo suit ably;Y brace and hold the paris together, and supported on the beams Q3 is a plalform 2li. On the "plalorm 24 isa suitable motor Q5 of any suilable eonsl'ruolion. The motor shown is electric, and olI lhe usual type. em ployed in eonneelion with traveling cranesn and has ils shaft QG provided with pinions Q? and The pinion il? in mesh willi J[he gear and lhis gear is loosely held on a supplemental -shal'l' 530 bel'Ween a collar and a elnleh meinl'leii' 32. This elnl'eh inem-- ber is heli/ed lo slide on lhe .sha'lil 3f). and 'iorniallY 'lloreed inlo engagein-lnl nii'h ille elnl'eh Keeth 5355 ol' lhe gear Ql by n-ieans olf serine' 34. by uhh-h lhe said shaler 30 may he rol'al'wl when lhe elnleh member Si is in the pdsilion shown in Fin'. 7. The shall', P10 eri-- lends lengrlhwise of lhe frame` and is sul angle Leanser from the motor easing, and is jonrnaled in suitaliile learings 36 loeal'ed al'y anyY 'desired point on lzhe 'frame .of the apparatus. The shalt 230 exlends lengthwise of' ihe 'lraine on. one side of The el; and elilem'ling; on the opposile side olf :said niolor and in alined nient"` therewilh is a sinflilar sinnilen'lenlal "f is snilalilly gioni'- sha'ft 3S. Th'. alii nel naled in l'iearmgs 3f). and adjaeenl' lo the motor is proridlal with a elnleh near Al0.

Lsimilar te the gear il?, and said (,:lui'eh gear #l0 is in mesh Willi lhe pinion ou lhe `end of 'lhe molor shaft opposile lo ihat of the pinion The elu'l'eh gear el() has its eluleh member l2 normalhY engaged hy the Clutch member 213, and this laller eluhfh menlber is slidingly held on the shallA 39, and is normali)T Forced inward inlo engagement with the loose eluteh g `ar 4() by means of a spring-dll, so lhat when theelul'eh is engaged as shown in Fig. 7. the said shall d will be rotated. The shaft 38 has ils end journaled in the braeliet in ille same manner as The shall'. 30, and the two shafts are thus in alinemenl'` or forni a eoniiuuation oi eaeh ol'her and are adapled lo be open aled in unison or indeiemlentlr. A shift'w ing lever l5 is pivoled 'to a bracket ll-( al; one end. and :is slidingly eonneeled lo the eluteh nlemher 43, and to lhe olher end of saidv lever is connected an operal'ing eliain llk which passes around a sleave or pulleyV -i-T sup-porled on the frame and 'hen exlends dou'nnf'ard. so as lo be eonvenimil; lo [he on erator. rlhe-eluleh member il? is operated by a lever .4l-8 similar lio lhe lever il?)` and sa id lever 48 is pirol'ed at ils inner end lo a bracket 119 on the motor easing. and al its Outer end is eoimeelied lo a chain or eahle fill. which passes around the 4sheare or puller 5l loealed on the frame and also exl'ends downwardso as lo be in eonreni/.ail' reza-h of ihe operator. It will be seen lhal as lhe motor 1s operated the palle s and gears 2f l'his worm is in mesh will) a 'Worin gear V13.

(En lhe shall 554i-, el: the worin eea; is arranged a 'spur `rear $35. and l'his shaili 5l e.\'- lends liansversr oli the :lr-aine. and has a. bailar 5V al1 ils opposite end. 'Vlie par :fears iii and 5V eaf'h mesh with ln'f: ;fears 5T and on opposile sides o fhe lranyg5 and lhe s il'ls olf diese nears are pro- .l with spi-mdf :79 and (3l) respeegiwly (Fig around u'hieh an. endless` illain or ported at one end in a hraelcel jh projeel'ing i eonreyer 6 1 is adapled lo pass and lo he 'l (fil) tached thereto,

moved by said sprockets when the shaft 30 is rotated, the said spur and worm gears and the sprockets forming an operating mechanism 62. A similar mechanism 63 to that of 62 is provided at the opposite end of the frame, and this mechanism is operated by the shaft 38, and is so arranged as to move the carrier or chain 61 in the proper direction. The shaft 38, Figs. 1 and 2, is provided with a Worm 64 which operates a worm gear 65, and on the shaft of said Worm gear is a spur gear 66. The shaft of the worm gear and spur gear extends transversely of the apparatus, and on the opposite end of said shaft is provided with a spur gear 67, and said gears 66 and 67 mesh with the gears 68 and 69, and on the shaft of these lat-ter gears are arranged sprocket wheels around which passes the chain as in the mechanism 62.

Any suitable carrier or transferring means or devices carried thereby may be employed. As shown the carrier or transferring means is in the form of an endless chain 61, and said chain comprises a plurality of links 72 suitably joined together and forming two parallel' members 73 which ,are joined at suitable distances apart by the rods 74 on the ends of which may be arranged rollers 75 which are adapted to travel along the lower' tracks 76, and the upper tracks 77. Each track comprises two members, and the members or rails of the lower track are supported along the beams of the frame in such a way as to kprovide an open space 78, which extends -the entire length of the apparatus at the lower part thereof, so that the means for holding the freight or Whatever is to be transferred may be properly supported by .the carrier so,as to provide a free passage therefor. As shown the carrier chain is provided with hooks 79 which are. suitably supported on the transverse'rods 74, and are of such a nature that they will normally hang in position to have the packages or other material to be transferred quickly atthough ,instead of the hopks any other suitable means may be employed according to the nature lof the material to be transferred. The carrier chain is provided with two main working'loops 81 and 82 which may be of any desired length and serve as a part of the chain which'receives or unloads the freight, and .said chain-passes around the mechanism 62 at one end, and the mechanism 63 at the opposite end, and is there provided with a supplemental or slack loop 83 at one end ofthe frame, and a supplement-al or slack loop 84 at the other end of the frame. These slack loops may be of any desired length, and are intended to .serve as slack or surplus in the chain for the purpose of lengthening or shortening either of the main working or transferring loops 81 and 8,2 when the mechanism is chain .61 the `which engage the operated as will be hereinafter described.

essary that the frame be open at the top` thereof for the reason that the chain travels above the same and the hooks 79 in this position are uppermost.

To positively drive the carrier or endless pinion or gear 28 of the motor shaft is made to mesh with the gear 87 on a longitudinally-extending main driving shaft 88. This gear 87 is loosely held on the shaft 88 and is provided with a clutch member 89 of the clutch 90, and said clutch has a member and said member 91 is normally held in engagement with the clutch member 89 by means of a spring 92 interposed between the member 91 and a collar 93, so that the gear and shaft will normally rotate in unison. A clutch lever 94 is motor casing and is held to the member 91 pivoted at 95 totheV 91 which is slidingly held on the shaft 88 so as to normally rotate with said shaft,-

the clutch,l so that it may release the gear 87 from rotating the shaft 88 when said clutch lever is operated.- A chain or cable 96 passes around a sheave 97 and extends downward convenient to the operator4 so that said'clutch lever-94 as well as the levers 45 and 48, may be operated at will to cause either or any of the shafts 30, 38 or 88 to be stopped. The shaft 88 extends substantially the entire length of the frame, and is adapted to operate the mechanism 98 and the mechanism 99 located o n opposite sides of` the motor. Each mechanism' comprises a worm 100 located on the shaft 88 which operates the worm gear 101, and said worm gear is -held to a shaft 102 which extends transversely of the frame above the track 76. The transverse shaft 102 is suitably jcurnaled in bearings 103 and adjacent to each bearingis a gear 104 which meshes with similar gears 105: These gears 105 are each held to a short shaft 106 located beneath the rails 76, and-on the inner end of each of said shafts 106 is held a sprocket Wheel 107 which serves to drive the chain or carrier at a point adjacent to the Working loops 81 and 82.

At or near each end of the shaft 88 is a mechanism 108 located at one end, and .a similar mechanism 109 located at the other end.

Each of the mechanisms 108 and 109 comc prise a worm 110 which is secured to the shaft 88 and this worm is in mesh with and rotates a worm gear 111. The Worm gear 111 is secured to a transverse shaft 112, and said shaft 112 is suitably journaled in bearings 113 carried on the frame, and is provided with sprocket Wheels 114 and 115, links of the carrier or chain 61 at the extreme part of the supplemental or slack loops 83 and 84:. Each sprocket Wheel may he provided with a guard 11G to prevent the chainlfrom becoming disengaged from the teeth ofl said Wheels. gears as a part of Vthe driving mechanisms, independent locking means is not necessary for the reason that said Worms cannot be driven hy any Weight that might' be placed on the carrier.

l t will be seen that various combinations may be obtained so that either of the Working loops 81 and 82 or both of them may be lengthened or shortened at Will by lengthening or shortening the supplemental or slack loops 83 and 84. lf the motor is operated to drive the shafts 88, and 38, the different mechanisms connectedA therewith Will more the endless chain or carrier of regularly and Without any change in the length of lsaid loops as shown in full lines 11i of Fig. 152. lf for example the clutch lever Qt is operated. to stop the shaft 88, and the shafts 30 and 38 operated7 the Working or the slack loops will be lengthened or shortened according to the direction of rotation of the motor, it, of course, being understood that the motor may be operated in either direction. This operation of the shafts 30 and 38 imparts movement to the mechanisms 62 and 63 as already described, and through them will operate the chain in such a Way as to lengthen one loop and shorten the other according to the direction of rotation of the shafts as indicated by line 118 in Fig. 12. If the lever 118 is operated to stop the shaft 30 so that only the shafts 88 and 38 operate, the effect of this would be to operate themechanism G3 and mechanisms 98, 99. 108 andV 10S) so that the slack or working loop at lthe same end of the frame mayv be shortened or lengthened accori'ling to the direction of rotation of the motor, as indicated by line 119. Then again if lever Let-ti is operated to stop the shaft lh so that the shafts .30 and 88 be operated, these shafts through the mechanisnis n'ill effect the saine rcsult'as that just lcscribed-on the opposite end of the frame as indicated hy line 120. If on the other hand levers lo and 48 are operated so that shaft 88 only is rotated, the effect of this lly providing Worms and Worm` action through the mechanisms4 98, 95), 108

and 109 will he to change the lcngtli ofthe working loop at either end, so as to lengthen one and lshorten the other according to the direction of rotation of said shaft through the inotor, though' thc same result may he obtained hy operating lever 94 and rerersing the direction of rotation of the inotor shat't.

From the foregoing it will he seen that simple and ellicicnt meansis provided .Wlierehy freight or other material may be transferred from a dock or 'lighter to a vessel or Vice versa.; that said means is so constructed as to provide an endless carrier which may be automatically lengthened or shortened at either or bothV ends of the apparatus and in such Way as to be under absolute control of the operator; that said apparatus is complete and self-contained in that it requires no additional mechanism to be applied thereto to adapt it for the purpose for which it is used; that said apparatus is strong and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture; that said apparatus may be suitably supported and rigidly held in position above the deck of a vessel Without the utilization of other means than the usual equipment which forms a part of the vessel, and that said apparatus is so made that it may be quickly lowered to the deck of a vessel'and carried as a part of its equipment and quickl placed in position for loading or unloa ing purposes Without the employment of skilled labor.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a loading and unloading apparatus, the combination with a frame, of an endless carrier supported thereon and having free Working and free supplemental slack loops,`

and means for lengthening or shortening said loops.

Q. In a loading and unloading apparatus, the combination with a frame, of an endless carrier supported thereon and haring main working and free supplcn'iental slack loops at each end of the frame, and means for lengthening or shortening said loops.

il. In a loading and unloadingl apparatus, the combination with a frame, of an endless carrier supported thereon and haring pendent free ivorking and a free slack loop, together with mechanism for lengthening or shortening one loop hy shortening or length-- ching another.

The combination with a frame comprisin;l longitudinall)v and transrcr. lu' extendA ing beams and tie rods suitably held to gether, o'l. an endless carrier inifn'ahly held on the traine. said' carrier ron'iprising tiro members suitably held'togciher so as to more in parallel relation, supporting means car-- :'icd by the endless carrier.` means for fo`l n in;l woi-fking and 'roo slack looi carrier and for operating .said ivi' i .slack loops` iiolopcnrlcn!tv ol each other so a@ to lengthen (ir/shorten the saine.

5. The continuation with a traino. of :in endless carrier uioiably hold on the l'raioe.

and means for forming troc working` and tree slack loops in said carrier at cach cnilof the frame and for operating .said loops independently of each other o as to lengthen or shorten the same, or tor driving the eh ain regularly.

(S. The con'ihinatidn with a frame comprising longitudinally and transversely extending'beams land tie rods suitably held together, of an endless carrier movably held on the frame, said carrier having pendent Working and free slack loops and comprising two members suitably held together so as to move in pa-rallel relation for supporting the objects to be transferred, a motor on the frame, together with mechanism for operatin'g said loopsl independently of each other so as to lengthen or shorten the same.

7. The combination with a frame, of an endless carrier supported on the frame and provided with a working loop and a free slack loop at each end of the frame, and means for operating the carrier to shorten one loop and transfer the excess to lengthen another loop.

8. In a loading and unloading apparatus, the combination with a frame, of an endless carrier supported thereon and having a working loop and a free slack portion, and means for lengthening or shortening the working loop.

9. In a loading and unloading apparatus, the combination with a frame, of an endless carrier supported thereon and having a working loop at each end and a free slack portion as a part of the carrier, and means for lengthening and shortening the working loops.

10. In aloading and unloading apparatus, the combination with a frame, of an endless carrier supported thereon and having free working and a free supplemental slack loop, means for lengthening or shortening said loops, and devices movable with the carrier for supporting the articles to be transported.

1l. In a loading and unloading apparatus, the combination with a frame, of an endless carrier supported' thereon and having free pendent working and free slack loops arranged in parallel relation, together with mechanism for lengthening or shortening one loop by lengthening or shortening another.

12. The combination with a frame, of an endless carrier supported ongthe frame and provided with a working loop at each end of the frame, a free slack portion, means for operating the carrier to shorten the working loops independently of each other and devices movable wit-h the carrier on which the articles to be transferred may be supported.

13. In aloading and unloading apparatus, the combination with a frame, of an endless carrier supported on the 'fra me and provided with a working and a free slack loop at each end, and mechanismfor operating the working loops independently of each other and independently of the slack loops.-

14.-. In a loading and unloading apparatus, the combination with a frame, of a motor mounted on saidlframe, an endless carrier having free working and free supplemental carrier having a loops, and mechanism operated by the motor for lengthening or shortening the working loops independently of each other.

15.\ In aloading and unloading apparatus, the combination with a frame, of an endless carrier having working and slack loops, a divided shaft operatively connected to the slack loops, a shaft operatively connected to the slack and working loops, and means for operating the shafts independently or in unison.

16. In a loading and unloading machine, the combination with a frame, ofan endless plurality of free and a plurality of slack loops arrangedin pairs one slack loop for eachworking loop, a motor, a plurality of shafts operatively connected to the motor, and a plurality of mechanisms operated by the shafts for moving the working loops independently of each other and the slack loops independently of each other and of the working loops or all of the loops together.

17. The combination with a frame, of a motor suitably mounted thereon, a divided shaft extending lengthwise of the frame and each part of said shaft independently operated by said motor, ing shaft arranged at the opposite side of the motor, an endless carrier having means held thereon to support the material to be transferred and having two main 'working loops and two slack or supplemental loops arranged adjacent to the working loops, and mechanism operated by the shafts together or independently of each other whereby the working loops may be shortened or lengthened through the slack loops for the purpose set forth.

18.`The combination with a frame, of amotor suitably mounted thereon, two sup-i plemental shafts extending lengthwise of the frame and independently operated by.

said motor, a longitudinally-extending main shaft, an endless carrier chain having means held thereon toV support the material tol be transferred and having two working loops and two slack loops arranged adjacent to the working loops, one at each end of the frame, and mechanism operated by the shafts together or independent-ly of each other whereby the working loops maybe independently. shortened or lengthened for the purpose set forth.

19. The combination with a frame, having upper and lower tracks, of a motorv suitably mounted thereon, shafts extending lengthwise of the frame and independently oper-A ated by said motor, a longitudinally-extend ing drive shaft operated by said motor, an endless carrier chain adapted to travel along the tracks and having means held a longitudinally-extendthereon to support the material to bet-rans- .to be held stationary the main loops, and mechanism engaging working loops and two slack loops arranged adjacent to the main loops and entirely free of the frame, and mechanism operated by the shafts together or independently of each other whereby the chain may be given a regular movement or the working loops shortened or lengthened for the purpose set forth.

2l. The combinationl witha frame, of a motor mounted on said frame, an upper and a lower track suitably supported on the frame and extending lengthwise thereof, an endless carrier adapted to move along the tracks and having two main working loops and twosupplemental slack loops located adjacent to the working loops, two shafts in alinement with each other and extending lengthu'fise of the frame on one side of the motor and operated thereby, means for disengaging said shafts so as to hold the same against rotary movement or to be rotated by said motor, a longitudinally-extending main drive shaft located on the opposite side of said motor, means for operating the latter shaft by the motor or to permit said shaft n'iechanism arranged adjacent to the working loops, means operating a part of the slack loop, and mecha nism located between the working loop and the 'slack loop at each end of the frame and operated by the su j'iplemental shafts for the purpose set forth.

f2.2. The combination with a frame, of an upper and a lower track suitably supported on the :trame and' extending lengthwise thereof. an endless chain adapted to move alongl the tracks and having working and slack loops, a slujiplemental shaft extending lengthwise of the frame, means for disengagin` said shaft so as to hold the same against rotary movement, a longitudinallyextending main drive shaft, means for operating the latter shaft or to permit said shaft to be held. stationary, mechanism arranged adjacent to the working loop, means operating a part of thevslack loop, and mechanism located between the working loop and the slack loop and operated by the supplemental shaft.

23. The combination with a frame, of a motor mounted. on said frame, an upper and a lower track suit-ably supported on the fran'ie and extending lengthwise thereof,

an endless chain :arrier adapted to move along thel tracks and having two working loops and two slack loops located adjacent to the working loops, two supplemental shafts in alineinent with each other and extending lengthwise of the frame and operated by the motor, means for disengaging said shafts so as to hold the same against rotary movement or to be rotated by said Vmotor, a longitudinally-extending main drive shaft, means for operating the latter shaft by the motor. or to permit said shaft to be held stationary, mechanism arranged adjacent to each working loop, means operating a part of each slack loop, and mech- `ahism located between the working loop and the slack loop at each end of the frame and operated by the supplemental shafts.

24:. The combination with a frame, of a motor mounted on said frame, an u per and a lower track suitably `supporte on the frame and extendin` lengthwise thereof, an endless carrier adapted to move along the tracks and having working and slack loops at each end of the frame and entirely free thereof, two supplemental shafts extending lengthwise of the frame and open ated by the motor, a longitudinally-extend- 'ing main drive shaft independent means including a clutch for operating each shaft independently by the motor or to permit said shaft to be held stationary, a lever for each clutch, a flexible connection for each lever to operate the same, and mechanism engaging the carrier and operated independently or simultaneously by said shafts to imparta regular movement to the entire carrier or to impart movement to a part of the carrier while anotherrpart is held stationary.

25. The combination with a. frame, of an upper and a lower track suitably suj'iported on the frame and extending lengthwise thereof, an endless carrier adapted to move along the tracks and having working and slack loops, a supplemental shaft extending lengthwise of the frame, a longitudinallyextending drive shaft, independent means including a clutch for operating each shaft indepeiulently, and. means for releasing the clutches. y

2G. The combination with a frame, of a motor mounted on said frame, an upper and a lower track suitably supported on the frame and extending lengthwise thereof, an endless chain adapted to move along the tracks and having free working and slack loops at each end of the frame located adjacent to the main loops, two supplemental shafts extending lengthwise of the frame, a longitudinally-extending drive shaft, means for operating the shafts independently by the4 motor or to permit said shafts to be held stationary, together with mechanisms arranged adjacent to the loops and each op- @rated by one of the shafts and including a lli.

worm, a worm gear and sprockets engaging saidv chain as a part of each mechanism.

27. The Combination with a frame comprising longitudinally-extending beams and transversely and vertically arranged beams or tie bars suitably holding the frame together so as to be substantially oblong in form, of upper and lower 'tracks supported on the frame and extending lengthwise thereof7 the said frame being so Constructed as to provide .an open space lengthwise of the frame at the lower part thereof, an endless carrier comprising two members arranged in parallel relation and having transferring means supported thereon and adapted to travel along the tracks, the said Carrier being provided with two `working loops and two slack loops one of each near each end of the frame, a motor mounted on the frame, together with mechanism operated by the motor whereby the loops may be shortened or lengthened.

This specification signed and witnessed this sixth day of March, A.. D. 1908.

BENJAMIN W. TUCKER. 'Witnesses M. TURNER, H. LINEHAN. 

